Jay and I recently gave away a suitcase that we got as a wedding gift. It was the Inspector Gadget of suitcases: it came with accoutrements like a laundry bag, shoe holder that zips to the side, toiletry kit, and sportcoat folder. It was such a size that we could pack both of our goods in it, no matter what length the trip, which saved us having to wait for two bags at baggage claim. It was really cool. Why did we end up giving away such a sweet case?
It was too big. And when we used it as a 2-for-1 case, it was too heavy.
And we paid the price. One time coming back from a trip, AirTran made us pay $80 because the size was greater than company guidelines. “Funny, we didn’t have to pay for it on the way there…” Let’s just say measuring tapes were involved. And once, on the way to France (or Vegas or somewhere), we got busted for the weight. This caused the embarrassing at-the-checkin-counter-in-front-of-the-whole-world opening of the bag and transferring of heavy items to a carry-on. Shoes, weigh. More shoes, weigh. Toiletry kit, weigh. Wait, can’t take the toiletry kit on board. Pants, weigh. At least that time, we didn’t have to pay. The airline had to make a buck somewhere else that day.
Eagle Creek, however, did made a buck not too long after that day, cause I had to buy a new, smaller suitcase. Shout out, though–Eagle Creek’s baggage and traveling accessories are awesome.
In what I am assuming is their latest attempt to stay solvent, Delta is invoking a one bag only policy on domestic flights (including US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico). After May 1, you bring two bags, you pay $25. My friends at Travelocity were kind enough to email me alerting me to this fact yesterday, as I am traveling to Atlanta on Delta in May after the policy changes. The Washington Post ever so thoughtfully alerted travelers to this new policy on March 20.
That’s fine. But what’s up, Delta? I thought we were friends. Besides the page in the “What’s New?” section of your site (no post date), there is a teeny mention of the change on your excess baggage page. I subscribe to your announcement emails, I get your weekly fare specials, I even own a credit card that gives me Delta SkyMiles. I fly almost exclusively with you because of my connections to the ATL, which happens to be your hub. I got nothing. No announcements, no emails. Where’s the heads up? Feels a little sketchy. Anyone with me here?
5 responses so far ↓
1 bittertwee // Apr 11, 2008 at 12:48 am
My god, I come back after a few days and you’ve become a blogging maniac! I’m overwhelmed.. I’m gonna have to save that long post for work tomorrow..
I got some stuff from Eagle Creek back when I actually took interesting trips, and yeah, they have good stuff. Just looking at travel accessories makes me want to travel.
At least Delta is the only airline not grounding its flights right now. (I’m not entirely sure I’m right about that and I’m too lazy to look it up, but I think it was Delta.)
2 jeanerz // Apr 11, 2008 at 7:43 am
It’s the end of the semester. Prime procrastination season, what did you expect?
Actually, my jeanerz.com site is getting a revamp, and because of it, I’m going to be divorcing my “professional” (ahem) site more and more from my blog. That way I won’t feel as weird posting nonlinguistics stuff.
I had to change themes, too, because the other one went defunct.
3 kurt // Apr 11, 2008 at 1:21 pm
shoes. i blame the shoes.
that sucks, girl. it figures they would change their policy and be sneaky about it.
4 jeanerz // Apr 11, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Kurt, as I’m sure you know, you always need to pack a few extra shoes for throwing. I should have thrown a shoe at the gate agent.
5 Apparently Delta reads my blog. // Jul 3, 2008 at 1:54 pm
[…] April, I posted about Delta’s under the radar change of their baggage policy where they decided not only to charge $25 for a second checked bag, but also decided not to tell so […]
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